Suspension-bridge



(No Model.) y 2 Sheets-Sheet l.. G. W. LITTLE.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

No. 417.054. Patented Dec. 10, 1889.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 2. G. W. LITTLE.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

No. 417.054. Patented Deo. 10, 1889.

...Mmm

. iii

N. PETERS. Pmwuuwgmpnu. wzahingmn. ILCY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GOR HC Ll'll'lL l, OF CARBONDALE, KANSAS.

SUSPENSION-BRIDGE.

y SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,054, dated December 10, 1889.

Application filed July 19,1889. Serial No. 317,977. (No model.)

To all 'Lu/"wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE XV. LITTLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carbondale, in the county ci' Osage and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Suspension-P 1idges; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relationvto certain new and useful improvements in suspensionbridges; and the object of the same is to provide a bridge which shall be light in weight, strong, durable, simple of construction, and which at the same time will permit of the same being so constructed as to meet the various demands made upon bridges of this character.

My invention further has for its object the Ineventin'g` of the swagging and vibration of the bridge while being crossed, and to means whereby the cables may be prevented trom slipping out of the adj usted position.

My invention further relates to the means whereby the cables and cross-tie rods may bel 6, an end view of the bridge; Fig. 4, a detail perspective view, and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the cables secured between the plates of the cableclamp- Similar letters of: reference are used to denote corresponding parts throughout the entire specification and drawings.

The letters A A are used to represent abutments placed at opposite ends of the bridge, and A`2 -Ai hollow cylindrical wrought-iron pillars secured to the top of the. abutments, two upon each. These pillars are provided at their top with the saddles a a.

A pair of supporting-cables D 2, anchored at points l) beyond the abutments A A', extend over the top ofV the pillars A2, over the stream or chasm, over the top of the opposite pillars A, and run thence to the pointh, where they are anchored. These cables :form a support or foundation for the cross-tie rods C, which rest thereon, excepting the center rod C', over which the center of said cables pass, and which rod is secured to the cables in a manner hereinafter described.

The side stringers are indicated by the letters D D and consist of four in number, two to each side of the bridge. The Stringer D is anchored at the point d, and runs from thence over the top of the pillar A?, over the chasm or stream, passing over the abutment A between the pillars A3, and is secured at the point of anchorage d. Stringers D are anchored at c, pass over the top of pillars A3, thence across the stream, over the abutment A, between the pillars A2, and are anchored at the point c. It will thus be seen that the stringers cross each other at their center directly over the tie or locking rod C', and that the stringers D D and cables B B rest upon each other at the top of the hollow cylindrical pillars, and run from thence to their respective points of anchorage interwoven, (so to speak,) thus greatly adding to the strength of the same. The side string-ers D D pass over the outer ends of the cross-tie rods, thereby holding the same securely upon the cables vB l5. This pressure upon the tie-rods and cables causes the latter to assume the position shown in Fig. l. of the drawings, thus converting the same into truss-cables for the support otf the entire structure.

In order to more securely hold the tie-rods in position between the truss cables and stringers, and to prevent undue vibration of the structure,l provide the center cable E, which is anchored at opposite points beyond and between the pillars. Said cable passes directly over the center of the tierods, and, besides forming means for holding the same in position, it affords a support for the center of the bridge-liooring, which floor is secured to the side stringers and said central cable in any well-known manner.

The hand-rail of the bridge is represented IOO by the letters l" F, and the free ends of the saine pass over the top of the pillars and are wound aro und the truss-cables and stringers, thereby formiuga more secure binding of the same, and are anchored at the points d c. At suitable intervals across the bridge the hand-rails and stringers are connected by short rods or cables f f, thereby preventing lateral movement thereof.

The tops of the pillars, as before stated, have secured thereon the saddles (t a, which have the grooves a cut therein, so as to forin a snug seat or rest for the severa-l cables passing thereover, and to prevent the projecting of the same over the tops of the pillars.. If so desired, the saddles may be provided with covers, in order to protect the top of thc cables from the action of the weather.

The outer ends of the cross-tie rods and center tie-rods C are provided with the dan ge, collar, or head g g, so as to prevent the saine from being displaced by lateral movement from between the truss-cables and side stringers. This head, flange, or collar may be cast integral with the rods or be made separate therefrom and screwed on.

The whole of the structure is tightened and securely fastened together by means of the tension-clamp G, which clamp consists of the screw-threaded tension-rods II, clamping-plates J J, sliding or working upon said rods, and the nuts K. The clamping-plates have grooves Z formed therein for the cables to pass through and be more firmly held therebetween. rlhe truss-cables B are secured between the lower clamping-plates and the side stringers between the upper ones, while the tension of the bridge is regulated by the tightening or loosening of the nuts K.

The central tie-rod C', crossed side stringers, and truss-cables are all three secured together by means of the clamp Ii, which is made somewhat heavier and slightly different, as shown, from the previous-described clamps.

I am aware that many lninor changes may be made in the construction of parts herein shown and described without departing from the nature and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure protection in by Letters Patent ot' thc United States, 'isl. In a suspension-bridge, the combination, with the end pillars thereof, of the side stringers, truss-cables, said cables and side stringers running over the top Of the cud pillars and being anchored at points beyond and between the same, and the cross-tic rods fitting between the side stringers and truss-cables, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

2. In a suspension-bridge, thc combination, with `the side stringers thereof,of the end pillars, cross-tic rods, said rods extending the entire width of the bridge, running beneath the side stringers, of the truss-cables extending over the top of the end pillars and running obliquely downward to the first cross- 'threaded bolts, substantially as set forth.

-;t. In a suspension-bridge, the combination of the end pillars, grooved saddles secured to the top of said pillars, side stringers running from opposite points across the stream over the grooved saddles of the pillars, said stringers crossing at their center, cross-tie rods passing beneath the side stringers, and the truss-tables extending over the grooved saddles and running from thence obliquely downward to the first tie-rod and thence beneath the same, said truss-cables holding the cross-rods in position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a suspension-bridge, the combination, with the end pillars, of the centrally-crossed side stringers, cross-tie rods located beneath said stringers, central supporting or locking rod, truss-cables running over the end pillars and extending obliquely downward to the rst tie-rod, said cables running beneath the cross-tie rods and over the central lockingrod, and of the tension-clamps for holding the cables, side stringers, a-nd cross-tie rods in place, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

G. In a suspension-bridge, the combination, with the end pillars, of the centrally-crossed side stringers, cross-tie rods located beneath said stringers, truss-cables running over the end pillars and extending obliquely downward to the first tie-rod, said cables running beneath the transverse tie-rods, and a centrally-located longitudinal cable passing over the abutments and tie-rods and having their ends suitably anchored, substantially as set forth.

7. In a suspension-biidge, the combination, with the end pillars, of the centrally-crossed side stringers, truss-cables, tie-rods tittingbetween said stringers and the truss-cables, central locking-rod running beneath the stringers and truss-cables, tension-clamps for securing the same together, centralv cable passing over the tie-rods, hand-rail running above the side stringers and over the top of the end pillars, the free ends of said rails being wound around the cable and stringers, and of the rods or cables for forming connection between the hand-rail and side stringers, substantially as set forth.

8. The combinatian, with the centrallycrossed side stringers and truss-cables, of the IOO IIO

cross-tie rods having' their outer ends pro vided with a, proj eet-ingheacheollar, orlange,

so as to provide against displacement of the sisting,` of the tension-rods, grooved Clampingplates working on said` tension-rods, and of the nuts for tightening orloosening` the pressure upon the plates, and of the central locking tie rod secured Centrally beneath the stringers and truss-cables, substantially as and for theV purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE \V. LITTLE.

Witnesses:

JULIUs CLARK, HENRY LITTLE. 

